Lubricating device



Aug. 29, 1933. M. c. HUFFMAN LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1929 Eig. l.

Patented' Augzg, 1933 f Y 1,924,499 v LUBRicATrNG DEVICE l y VMarvin C. Huffman, Claremont, N. H., assigner to Sullivan Machiner tion of. Massachusetts Application December 21,

y Company, a corpora- 1929. serial No.` 415,626

`21 Claims. (C1. 1 84-55) his invention relates generally to lubricating devices and in the speciiic embodimentillpstrated herein theinvention has particular signincance in the eld of -line oilers, which is especially useful in connection with airlines supplying motive fluid to pneumatically operated mechanisms such as hammer drills, etc., although the .invention may be used with steam lines used for similar or other purposes.

Gne object of my invention is to provide an improved lubricating device which is effective at` l l all times for supplying a certain amount of lubricant to fluid flowing through the line'` irrespective of what position the oiler maybe in, whether standing up or down .or inany angular position. A further object is to provide animproved arrangement `whereby a relatively large strainer is provided, thereby permitting the i lubricant space to be easily and rapidly filled and yet have the lubricant entirely strained so' as` to exclude -foreign matter from the passages in thedevice. Heretofore the strainer arrangements have been 'such that only a relatively small strainer screen could be usedivith the result that the lubricant' Would pass therethrough lonlyrelatively slowly, `much to the annoyance of the Workmanwho would proceed to puncture or' remove the same in order topermitrapid lling of the lubricant chambenthis, of course, resulting 'in any and'all foreign matter passing into the lubricant chamber and in time clogging the passages leading therefrom to the air line.k Another object is to provide an`imp1oved arrangementr Wherebythe amount `of. lubricant discharged from the lubricant chamber to the air line may be effectively and easily adjusted and yet is soV arranged that the adjustment may` notybe readilytampered` with or in any Waylaccidentlyhmoved so as to obtain an improperjadjustment. Aiurther and more specic object of my inventionis to provide an improved arrangement whereby the parts may be readily and easily manufactured .and assembled andV which Willhave all the desired ruggedness whichv is essential in a device of `this type whichiduring normal` useflies uponthe ground andiis dragged around 'thereon as the operator moves the tool or hose to different locations.

While other objects and advantages might be mentioned, these will be seen more readilyirom the following description of the `accompanying drawing, which illustrates one specific embodiment of the invention, and in which: l Fig. 1 isa plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof..

passageY While i v `to communicate with the` top of the chamber 20. 105

Fig. 3 is a-tranvsverse section takenon line 3-3 f of Fig. 2.

Fig; 4is tainof the tailler: f, v: The illustrative embodiment of my invention comprises an outer casing 1, having 'an inlet connection 2 at one end while theother end is provided with va removable capi3 having ran outlet ,connection`4 and a llingpassage 5. A 65- relnovable screw-threaded plug uisjadaptedV to close this passage which extends through a suitable projection 7 extending substantially` ra-A dially inwardly-of thecap 3 but spaced. from the WallsV thereof on three Vsides so as to permit line `liuid to flow therearound.- f `A lubricant container'orinner casing isujournaled for rotationat one end upon a sleeve 9, extendinginwardly from the projection 7,;While a" detail sectional view showingiY 'ceruid passages in the lubricant conthe `otherend is journaled in va suitable bearing l t A 10 supported by ribs extendingY inwardly vfrom the end of thecasing` 1, these ribs being spaced apart sufiicently to permit free passage of-the air orV other fluid flowing from `connectiony 2 to4.- Y

The additional structure will be more readily y understood by considering the Voperation thereof at `the same time. Air, assumedto flovv Y:in

through the connection 2, passes through'fthe annular passage formed between the inner con'- 85 tainer 8 and the outer casing rI then around the projection 7 to Vthe outlet 4 and linfso doing creates a slight reduction in pressure adjacent a passage 11. An adjustable valve llafis j provided .for vcontrollingfluid flow Vthrough'the 90 passage v11.` This reduction in pressure tendsto permit discharge of lubricant from theconltainer as by way of passage 12, annular pasY sage 13, passages 14 and ,15, diagonal passage 16` and passage i A municatejasby ports 18 or 19y with4 the lubricant chamber 20. The passage 17` is providedA with aportion of reduced diameter, against which 4gravity operated A.check valves 22 `or 23 are adapted tol-seat depending upon the position 100` v of the device. Line pressureis transmittedfto chamber 20 throughfpassage 24, the right end of which has direct communication with jthenair' the other end is turned.l at 25` A. passage -2U6lisl `similar to but reversely arranged i u with respect to the passages 24 and 2,5, in that `it. has direct communication with the line passage at `its left end While Vthe opposite end l has a passager27 communicating with'the top of ll0`A 17, which is adapted tdcom- 95,v

. operation. Ii .the

the chamber 20. The lubricant containerv or casing 8 has a portion 28 sufficiently weighted to hold thecontainer in, .or rotate it to, the positionr as shownswhenever the oiler is positioned to have any 'appreciable horizontall component, whereby the upper part of the lubricantchamber 2O will have line pressure therein and this;`

coupled Vwith the reduced pressure at thepassage 11 will cause the lubricant to ilowthrough passagev 17, past: the gravity-operated check valves 22 andv 23,

portion lubricant container 8 might assume av passage 1'7y at the top infwhich.

- into the diagonal passage 16 thrcughport 19.

Due to theupper end ci the passage Vbeing above the level o the lubricant chamber 20 lubricant cannot ilow by gravity from the chamberv into the line. On the other hand ir" the device is positionedV so that inlet 2 is above outletfl gravity--Y operated ball 23 closes the right end of the' reduced Yportion of passage 17 thereby preventing discharge of iiuid pressure frointheright end of thechamber through theport 19. In this position lubricantV will Vbe discharged through port`18 and-.past check valve 22 which will Vhave rolled to the leftA end of passage 17,7and-on out tothe parallel passage 15 and passage 1'1. Lubri-V cant is prevented from Iiowing by gravity from the chamber Ydue tothe end oi the diagonal pas- Y sage 16,'V'which communicates withpassage "15,

being abovejthe level of the lubricant in the chamber;V Y When the oiler is positioned. with inlet 2 Vrabove outlet 4 the lubricant chamber it is desired to vent this pressure'when the line pressure is shut oir for otherwise lubricant might be forced back throughpassage 2i into the line.

accomplished byr the, second passage 26 vwhich communicates with the right end of the chamber and theV line passage I v n Itis thus. seen that the device ywill Vat all times operate automatically tornaintain the proper position whereby lubricant may feed lfrom Athe y chamber 2G`to the outlet 11. Y

The improved strainer arrangement consistsjin havingthe filling passage 5 extend through the bearing sleeve 9 to which thestrainer 29is secured. By extending within'thechamber 20'the strainer inay be made with a very large 'area without in any way diminishing'the kcapacityrof l the device, while at the Sametime permitting the chamber to be filled rapidly' as the `area Yof the strainer usually determines the-rate of filling.' AIt will also be seen that' due tothe location of the strainer within thecharnber anddueto it being disposed at the extreme end of the tor'tuous iillv Ying passage 5 it 'is'v practically Vimpossible. for an Q operator to puncture or in any way tamper fthe strainer, thereby insuring that clean lubri-` with cant will be supplied to thev tools; v Y A i It will also be seen that the device maybe easily assembled or'disassenibled merely by the V1,924,4ee

through diagonal passage x16,v Vand'r en .out to passagerll where Vthe reduced i Yadapted for quick and easy Vpressure 'isfencountered Without this weighted While I have iny this application specifically.

i and accordingly with the yair pressure inthe space at theright endr of y This venting is removal oi the cant container 8 may be dropped out through the head cover 3 whereupon the lubriend of the casing 1. When the parts are thus disassembled the strainer screen29 `,which may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, butl which is preferably cylindrical, will be entirely openfor inspection and maybe removed if for,-Y eign matter should have accumulated to an undesirable degree. To 4permit the ready removal of this screen'any suitable rne'ansl maybe used but a removable pin is shown as being most operation.

describedone embodiment which my invention ma'ylassuine in practice, it will be understood that this form ofthe ysame is shown for'purposes of illustration and that the'invention may be modined and embodied in various otherforms without ,departing from its Yspirit or the yscope of the appended claims. 1

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricating ice comprising an outer casing havingan inlet and outlet, an inner,casing` disposed therein and having a lubricant c,

.rnber, means for effecting a differential pressure on the lubricant contained in said chamber Ywhereby the` lubricant may iced to said outlet, and

means for filling said innercasing including an 'angular passageway having a llerlopening and l terminating in the lubricant charlieW ci' said inner casing and having a screen eictendhigV therein to 'lose the end :i said filling being so formed as to prevent direct access to said strainer thrc hfsaidiiller opening. i

2. d line oilercomprising, inv combination, an

outer casingV having an `inlet and outlet, an inner yj casing swiveled therein and spaced'irom the walls thereof to provide a riainv passage betweenrsaid inlet andv outlet, alubricant chamberin said in-L f ner casing for containing a lubricant; and means for effecting a differential pressure on lubricant contained in said chamberwhereby the lubricant may feed to said main passage at a substantially pre-determined rate irrespective oi the position that the oiler might be in and including separate discharge passages for conducting lubricant from said chamber'tothe air line and each having an nsl automatic'check' valve and respectively corn` .municating with the opposite ends ci said charn- 3. A line oiler .comprising in combination an l outer casing having an inlet and outlet to which Ia fluid pressure line `may be attached, an inner.r

casing having a Ylubricant[chamber and being' swiveled within said outer casing .and spaced from the walls thereoto provide a main passage between said inlet and outlet, rand means vfor effecting differential pressure on the lubricant in said chamber whereby the lubricantrnay feed to the -luid line at a substantially pre-determined rate'for anyposition of the oiler, said means' including` a passage and check rvalve'arrangement automatically operative to* maintain feeding' ofy v said differential pres,-k Vsure irrespective oi the position ofy the oiler.

the lubricant in response vto 4. A linemoiler., comprising, in combination, a

Vcasing structure having an inlet and outlet l,adapted to be connected to a main air line, said casing structure having formed therein a passage eX- `tending therethrough connecting said inlet and outlet in communication, and means forming a lubricant chamber, and'means for effecting a` differential pressure on the lubricant Ain said chamber, and for feeding lubricant from said v sage ,arrangement discharging lubricant within.. said first mentionedrfluid passage in the 'direction of iiuid iiow through said iiuid passage, said discharge passage arrangement includingsubstantially parallel passages formed in' said chamber forming means'and a passage extending diagonalnecting said parallel passages.

chamber to the air line including apassagearrangement formed in said casing structure andl chamber forming means and including-4a passage communicating with Vsaid first' mentioned passage for discharging lubricant thereto, a passage communicating'with the lubricantl chamber, andpassage means formed within said chamber forming means for connectingfs'aid second andA third mentioned passages, said last mentioned passage means disposed cant chamber; i 1 e 5. A line oiler comprising, in`combination`,a

diagonally of said lubricasing structure having an inletand outlet and a iiuid passage 'extending' therethrough connect-y n ing said inlet and outlet incommunication, and

means Within said casing structure forming a" lubricant chamber, saidrchaznber forming means having formed therein supplyv and dischargelpas-` sage arrangementsfor supplying` pressure `iiuid from said fluid passageto jsaid` lubricant chamber and for discharging `lubricant from the chain'- ber to saidiiuid passage, said fluidl supply passage 'arrangement including a passage for conducting pressure fluid fromy said uidpassage toV `said lubricant chamber, and said discharge-pasly across said chamber formin -6. The combination ses forth in `claim 5 fur.-

of gravity-operated check valves disj'aosedinone` e 9. The combination set forth in claim 5 fur- Y ther characterized in that said diagonal passage extends from a point adjacent from one endof said chamber toa point intermediate the ends thereof, the latter end of said diagonal passage communicating with the parallel passage conv-fl taining the gravity-operated check valve.

10. A line oiler comprising, in combination, an outer casing having an inlet and outlet adapted to have connection with a main Vuid line, a re-j movable'head cover at one end of said casing having means providing a lling passage' terminating in an axial projection, a casing disposed within said outer casing and having a lubricant chamber, one end of said lubricant casing being closed While the other end has an opening therethrough, means whereby said closed end is swiveled on said casing While said open end is swiveled on the axial projection of said filling passage, a passage in said lubricant casing allowing vcommunication of pressure from the mainline ltosaid chamber, and means whereby lubricant may be discharged -from said' chamber tothe main line including a pair of substantially para1. i-lel passages connected by a diagonal passage,

one of said parallel passages having a portion of reduced diameter and gravity-operated check Valves adapted toengage either side of said reduced portion, passages p ermittingcommunication between said chamber `and said check Valve g means for` conv `,bricant chamber to enclose the end of said filling' f i passage remote from said iiller opening; said paspassage; af diagonal passgetonnecting with' the I reduced portion 'of said checkvalvefpassage and said Vother parallel passa'gef-'andimeansfor adju'sti'ngitheliiowvof lubricant fromsaid chamber l l .-v tobeinserted in a i" to fthe main line. y

f `.11.* A line oilery adapted main 'fluid-pressure line comprising, e in combination,l a; casingvstructure having 'an Vinletand loutletj and' `a lubricant chamben,l and means for "effecting fa; differential pressure4 on the" lubricant inl said'chamberwhereby' lubricant may be; fed

fromsaid chamberto the main line, including' a h .passage 4having each of Iits ends adapted 'forgcommunication withf said chamber Y and, having a f ,portion-of reduceddiameter, andapassage connecting into` said reduced portionv andi. leading tofthe fluid linefg y .ri-,12.*The combinationset forth in claim 11` fu'r-` ther characterizedl'by the provision of f, check valvesfin said passage having the portion of re'- duced diarnjeten, whereby; one or 'the' other Aof said check` valves mayseat against saidredu'ced por- Y tion when the oiler is in;y an inclined position.V 135A lubricating devicefcomprising' a casing havingfan inlet andan outlet connection, vamember providing a lubricant chamberan'd rotatably e mounted within said casing, and4 means yfor lling said lubricantjchamber including an angular passageway-having a lleropening and having a portion extending along. the axisof said member and terminating'in saidlubricant chamber, said passageway having a yscreen extending4 inthe lusagebeing so formed as to prevent directv access to said strainer through sald lillern opening.

`14'. A lubricatingfdevicej'comprising-fan,outer y casing having anfinletnand'an outlet, "anfinner casing disposed 'therein and having'substantiallyV free rotatable movement relative Y'to said outer casing, and providing a lubricantchamber,v a

head member at Vc'n'ieend -of said outer casing of lsai'clhinner casing, and means for'rillin'g said inner 'casing including' 'anjangular`p'assageway extending?-"th'roughAv said bearing andVV havingv a lller opening, saidfpassageway terminating fin' the lubricant chamber of said inner casing and having a screen at the` innerA end of saidiilling passage; extending lWithin said lubricant chamber having a projection forming ,a bearing for one end to enclose the end ofA saidjfllingf'passage, lsaid passageway being so formed as to. prevent direct to permit free acces'sto said` screen.

15.1A lubricating devicev comprising an vouter casing having an inlet and lan outlet, anfinner casing disposed therein and having substantially free rotatable movernent relative `to said outer casing and providing'a lubricant-chambler,A means and said head being :removable from saidi casing `formed'on 4sai-d inner casing for vrnaint'aining said access to said screen through said fillervopeningA casing in substantially uniform positionirrespective of rotation of the outer casingfon a longitudinal axis, said inner casingv having formed `therein a lubricant discharge passage for conducting lubricant from the lubricant chamber to the air line and4 checkvalvescarriedby said inner casing` operative upon inclined position ofs'aid device,` to control fluid now fromsaid lubricant chamber through saidldischarge passage. Y 1

. ',1'6. A lubricating device {comprising an outer casing having aninlet. and an outletan inner casing i disposed therein and having substantially free Vrotatable movementV relativeto said outer casing and `providing alubricant chamber, means itc `ai) tubular member lprojecting Within said Chamber,

tive f retatien si the enter easing on a longitude:

f nal axis, said inner easing ,having farmed. therein a lubricant discharge ,Ypassageifor eondiicting` Vlubricant from the lubricant chamber to the air line and check valves carriedby said innerk casing operative upon inclinedpositionof .Said .device to Control fluid flew frein said .lubricant-chamber tnroiieli` Said discharge passasesaid cheek.' valves.

being in open position when said lubricating device isin a horizontal position. I A It,

171A line oiler comprising inner 'and Aouter casings, said inner casing supported for substantially free rotation relative to the outerr casing and hav-l ing a lubrieant Chamber, andffillins means .pier y said lubricant chamber including a f lllingtpassage Y' 'extending-alone the axis ef. said rotatable easing and Openinelinte said lubricant ehamber, Ythe inner endoi said kpassage being Yformed'vvitlfiina said inner easing being rotatably supported on and rotatable relative to said tubular memben y 18.- UA lubricating devicev comprising a casing structure .having an inlet and` Qutlet.,n and a iiiiid`r passage extending through said casing structure 4for, connecting said. inlet aneleiltlet,v and" IneensV for supplying alubrieant ,te ,said fluid. passage..

irresiiective of the angular and tiltedjposition of i* said'casing structure including amember swing-1 kably mounted Within said ycasing. 4st iriicture. and lcasings, Ysaid* inner rcasing supported for substanhaving formed therein aY lubricant reservoir and having alternatively operative vlubricant dis- A'charge passages, each having an automatic` checl;

valve, Yonev passage beingv opened when thev casing structure is-in one extreme endwise tilted position andthe .other passage being opened WhenY the casing lstructure is in its other extremejendwise 'tilted position.; Y e

V19. A lubricating device comprising a Casing structure having an inlet and outlet, and a fluid` passage extending through said'casing structure for connecting saidv inlet and outleugand means KVVfor si'iigi'plying*aV lubricantr to said fluid passage irrespectiveof4 the angular and tilted'position of said casing structure, including a member swings' nil, f l

matie@ tends te mere te maintain saideweighted portion'r at the bettein andsaidmernber having formed therein av lubricant reservoir and having alterr-iativelvv eperative lubricant discharge passages, eaeli having anY autematie Cheek valve/One passage being'opened when the casing structure isy in,

. one extreme endwise tilted positionand the other passggebeing opened when thecasing structurek is in its other'extreme endwise position, said dischargelpassages being formed in the lower Weight- :ed portion of said svvingablemembersothat-tlie57 assume a lowermost'position in thefcasing struc- 'ture irrespective of the angular` position of the latter about its longitudinal axis. 1

2Q. A liiieoiler comprising inner and'outer easines, said inner Casina suppertedier substan- .tially free rotation relative tothe outercasing l and havinga lubricant chamber, said outericasvingv having an inlet and" outlet and said casings cooperating to forxnga passagetconnecting said inlet and outlet, bearing :means for said `inner casingiincluding a tubular bearing member prof jectingaxially Within the'lubricant chamber, and' sie,`

passage means for conducting pressure fluid from said passage' to the lubricant vclfiamber and for conducting lubricant from said chamber to said tubular bearing member.

Vpassage including passage means formed in said tially-fre'e rotation. relative to theiouter casing and Ahaving av lubricant chamber, said outer casing having an inlet and outlet and said casings cooperatingV to form a passage connectingY said inlet and outlet, bearing means -for said innerk casing including a tubularlbearing member projecting v axially Within the lubricant chamber, and passage means for conducting pressurer fluid from said passage to the lubricant chamber and for conductiio ing lubricantfrom said chamber to said passage y including passage means-formedin said tubular MERVIN C. HUFFMAN.

y"iiiof ist 

